True Blue LA - June 7: White Sox 4, Dodgers 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2022-06-08T07:02:00-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/229225892022-06-08T07:02:00-07:002022-06-08T07:02:00-07:00Leading Off: Justin Turner has 1,000 hits with the Dodgers
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<img alt="MLB: JUN 07 Dodgers at White Sox" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/w8aUBRDUD4VjLfKqxoYnv85mfi0=/0x0:4561x3041/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70955570/1241168198.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>35th player in franchise history</p> <p id="8uA2Hj">Justin Turner singled in the seventh inning <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/6/7/23159066/aj-pollock-david-price-dodgers-white-sox-two-outs-mitch-white">against the White Sox on Tuesday night</a>, joining a relatively rare group in <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> history, which is the thrust of this morning’s Leading Off with True Blue LA.</p>
<p id="VzXGdx">The single off of Reynaldo López was Turner’s 1,000th hit since joining the Dodgers, the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/bat.shtml">35th in franchise history to reach that mark</a>. Turner is one of just four Dodgers with 1,000 hits to have played for the team in the 2000s, along with Eric Karros (1991-2002), Andre Ethier (2006-17), and Matt Kemp (2006-14, 2018).</p>
<p id="RjBNav">Turner also has 147 home runs with the Dodgers, tied with Adrián Beltré for 15th place in franchise history. With three more homers, Turner would be the 12th Dodger with at least 150 home runs and 1,000 hits.</p>
<p id="4usKw6">Two other current active Dodgers have over 500 hits with the team — Chris Taylor (617 hits) and Cody Bellinger (584).</p>
<p id="Pm9U8K">Also on this episode, why I think the Dodgers will call up a fresh arm to the bullpen on Wednesday, after Mitch White’s start on Tuesday and Clayton Kershaw’s pending return.</p>
<div id="2DsUY3"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 200px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://player.megaphone.fm/VMP9862063775" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div>
<h3 id="5tap9s">Podcast links</h3>
<p id="BpBweR"><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/podcasts/22758076/true-blue-la-podcast-dodgers">Ways to listen</a></p>
<p id="3GUVwf"><a href="https://feeds.megaphone.fm/true-blue-la">RSS feed</a></p>
<p id="tWc86y"><a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/true-blue-la?selected=VMP9862063775">Episode link</a> (time: 15:43)</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/podcasts/2022/6/8/23159214/justin-turner-1000-hits-dodgersEric Stephen2022-06-07T20:01:33-07:002022-06-07T20:01:33-07:00Pollock gets last laugh in first game since Dodgers trade
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<img alt="MLB: JUN 07 Dodgers at White Sox" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G0kHB_GRcu8dW2gHdXNaIJt0Bew=/0x0:4607x3071/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70954228/1241167265.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Mitch White throws 5 scoreless innings, but what’s next for the LA RHP?</p> <p id="e8tsyR">A scoreless pitching duel turned disastrous once the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> turned to the bullpen. AJ Pollock got the first of three run-scoring hits off David Price in the sixth inning, all with two outs, leading the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> to a 4-0 victory in Tuesday night’s series opener in Chicago.</p>
<p id="kHynZ9">Phil Bickford, who was called up earlier Tuesday when closer Craig Kimbrel landed on the paternity list, was the first reliever out of the bullpen, retiring two of his first three hitters in the sixth inning. A dribbler through the right side by José Abreu put runners on the corners, ending Bickford’s night.</p>
<p id="lfLrmL">In came the left-handed David Price, but instead of the lefty-batting Gavin Sheets, Tony LaRussa turned to the right-handed Pollock, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/4/1/23006461/craig-kimbrel-trade-dodgers-white-sox-aj-pollock">who the Dodgers traded to Chicago for Kimbrel on April 1</a>. Pollock, who entered Tuesday in a 4-for-31 (.129) slump, wasted no time, lining the first pitch from Price into the right field corner, driving home the first two runs of the game.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">AJ Pollock with the pinch-hit, go-ahead double! <a href="https://t.co/I0BbB5L2VW">pic.twitter.com/I0BbB5L2VW</a></p>— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSWhiteSox/status/1534355862923497474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2022</a>
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<p id="BQxacp">Jake Burger followed with an RBI double, then after an intentional walk to Yoan Moncada, catcher Reese McGuire singled home another run. </p>
<p id="riKqLR">In a matter of four pitches from Price, a scoreless tie turned into a 4-0 Dodgers deficit.</p>
<p id="dDuFkT">It took until the game’s 22nd batter for either side to register a hit. Will Smith singled to get the Dodgers off the schneid with two outs in the fourth inning, and even advanced to second base on a balk. That counted as a rally against Michael Kopech, who was dominant with eight strikeouts and only two baserunners allowed in his six innings, flummoxing the Dodgers with a fastball-slider combination.</p>
<p id="Ddpotv">Mitch White was stingy in his own right, retiring his first 12 batters faced. A leadoff single in the fifth broke up any thoughts of a perfect game, then a hit by pitch and another single changed the equation, loading the bases with one out. White was able to escape the jam thanks to a pair of strikeouts — a full-count fastball to freeze McGuire, and an 0-2 slider to get Harrison swinging.</p>
<p id="SgCTZI">It took 21 pitches to get through that fifth inning for White, who was pulled after 69 total pitchers and two full times through the order. White this season has faced a lineup a third time through only once, in his last start last Wednesday, allowing a walk and a home run to break a 1-1 tie against Pittsburgh.</p>
<p id="igrPp8">The Dodgers will gladly take the five scoreless innings from White, with the only question is whether he stays on the roster, and for how long? </p>
<p id="fiVr1q">His next turn in the rotation would be Sunday in San Francisco, but the Dodgers are targeting that series finale against the Giants for Clayton Kershaw’s return from the injured list. </p>
<p id="Xe8e5w">“I’m gearing toward Sunday,” Kershaw told reporters in Chicago on Tuesday, <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/2022/06/07/dodgers-clayton-kershaw-passes-rehab-test-ready-to-go/">per Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register</a>. “And unless something changes, I’ll be ready to go that day.”</p>
<p id="4Zh9IA">If White won’t start this weekend, the Dodgers’ usual move is to use the roster spot in the days in between then and now for an extra relief arm. White would need to be in the minors for 15 days unless replacing an injured player, but the Dodgers have three coming off days (June 13, June 16, June 20) such that they wouldn’t necessarily need White to start again for more than two weeks anyway. </p>
<p id="r7ZggH">And that’s before factoring in that Andrew Heaney will likely be ready to return by then. Heaney is set to <a href="https://twitter.com/azfreedman/status/1534296247250690048">make his second minor league rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday</a>, as he recovers from left shoulder discomfort.</p>
<p id="BQAO1b">White was a frequent flier last season, getting optioned 10 different times after opening day. Starting May 2 this year, there is a limit of five times a player can be optioned in any one season. White hasn’t yet been optioned this season.</p>
<p id="Dr5d09">Should the Dodgers elect to add a reliever, among the healthy pitchers on the 40-man roster not currently active, left-hander Garrett Cleavinger and Reyes Moronta <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/8/23055408/dodgers-minor-league-option-tracker">have been on option for over the required 15 days</a>. </p>
<h3 id="Me8eiw">Of note</h3>
<p id="Yf6tIk">Justin Turner singled off pitcher Reynalo López in the seventh inning, his 1,000th hit since joining the Dodgers. Turner is <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/tools/share.fcgi?id=cRvxs">the 35th player in franchise history to reach that milestone</a>. More on that in tomorrow morning’s <a href="https://feeds.megaphone.fm/true-blue-la">Leading Off with True Blue LA podcast</a>.</p>
<aside id="zlMuoo"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"How to listen to True Blue LA podcasts","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/podcasts/22758076/true-blue-la-podcast-dodgers"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="7TZ9dH">Tuesday particulars</h3>
<p id="a4P5G9"><strong>Home runs</strong>: none</p>
<p id="VfebwW"><strong>WP — Michael Kopech (2-2)</strong>: 6 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts</p>
<p id="bKRhOB"><strong>LP — Phil Bickford (0-1)</strong>: ⅔ IP, 2 hits, 2 runs</p>
<h3 id="fqEr7O">Up next</h3>
<p id="4OJnVz">Tony Gonsolin starts the middle game of the series on Wednesday night (5:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Johnny Cueto makes his fifth start since joining the White Sox.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/6/7/23159066/aj-pollock-david-price-dodgers-white-sox-two-outs-mitch-whiteEric Stephen2022-06-07T16:47:00-07:002022-06-07T16:47:00-07:00Dodgers vs. White Sox Game I chat
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<img alt="New York Mets v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nWMZ5dPf4a4mZASpI1vuAOzwiOg=/0x0:6685x4457/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70953851/1401120121.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Series opener in Chicago</p> <p id="mgj344">The battle of Camelback Ranch starts Tuesday night in Chicago, with Mitch White and the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> facing Michael Kopech of the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a>.</p>
<p id="X5hdMy">These two teams met in the 1959 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a>, the Dodgers’ second year in Los Angeles. Despite losing Game 1 in lopsided fashion, 11-0, the Dodgers won the series in six games.</p>
<p id="WB65aY">In interleague play, the White Sox have won 14 of 25 games against the Dodgers, dating back to 2003, including seven out of 11 in Chicago. Since 2009, the year both teams started playing spring training games at Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers are 9-7 against the White Sox, including 4-4 at Guaranteed Rate Field.</p>
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<h3 id="CU3Z0C">Game info</h3>
<ul>
<li id="wzUlJS">Teams: Dodgers (35-19) at White Sox (25-27)</li>
<li id="O5ynJS">Pitchers: Mitch White vs. Michael Kopech</li>
<li id="g8HEKw">Location: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago</li>
<li id="BYbLUY">Time: 5:10 p.m. PT</li>
<li id="LhRUSe">TV: SportsNet LA, TBS (out of market)</li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/6/7/23158450/dodgers-white-sox-game-chatEric Stephen2022-06-07T13:32:07-07:002022-06-07T13:32:07-07:00Kimbrel placed on paternity leave, Bickford called up
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<img alt="The Philadelphia Phillies vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OWMOjfjaUAfad36RLWW9IhpFSoQ=/0x0:3647x2431/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70953128/1240667625.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="sCKFSf">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Tuesday placed closer Craig Kimbrel on the paternity list, and recalled pitcher Phil Bickford from Triple-A Oklahoma City before Tuesday’s series opener against the White Sox in Chicago.</p>
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<p id="YXE6wD">MLB’s paternity list allows for up to three days of leave, though it hasn’t yet been reported when he might return. Placing him on the paternity list provided an avenue for Bickford, who <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/27/23144324/dodgers-roster-ryan-pepiot-phil-bickford">was optioned to Triple-A on May 27</a>, to return before spending 15 days in the minor leagues.</p>
<p id="MWWkCJ">Kimbrel has a 4.00 ERA and 2.68 xERA in 18 appearances this year, with 25 strikeouts (a 32.5-percent strikeout rate) and six walks in 18 innings. He took the loss on Sunday against the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>, allowing an unearned run in two innings, the product of an extra-inning free runner. It was Kimbrel’s first outing longer than one inning this season.</p>
<p id="fk9m8Q">Bickford in the majors this season has a 3.45 ERA and 4.36 xERA in 17 games, with 13 strikeouts and three walks in 15⅔ innings. He allowed five runs in five innings since getting optioned to Oklahoma City. The right-hander last pitched Saturday, allowing one run in one inning, throwing 16 pitches at Round Rock, a Rangers affiliate.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/6/7/23158550/craig-kimbrel-paternity-leave-dodgers-roster-phil-bickfordEric Stephen2022-06-07T12:46:00-07:002022-06-07T12:46:00-07:00Walks tell the story of Dodgers vs. White Sox
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Chicago White Sox" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r2rF9yAmHWI8bVy5gW0_7ITOvSc=/0x0:4038x2692/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70952855/819084464.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Banks/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>3-game series begins Tuesday night in Chicago</p> <p id="wU3ULw">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are in Chicago to play the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> for the first time in five years. Both teams were heavy favorites to win their division this season, but have had wildly different starts.</p>
<p id="5E3CA9">Los Angeles had a rough week last week at home, but is still on pace to win 105 games, and currently holds a 2½-game lead in the National League West. The White Sox prior to the season <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds?date=2022-04-07&dateDelta=">had a 60.1-percent chance to win the American League Central per FanGraphs</a>, and a 72.9-percent chance to make the playoffs.</p>
<p id="EYroHv">The White Sox were streaky to start, going 6-2 before losing 10 out of 11. The whiplash continued with seven wins in their next eight games. But then they settled in to a groove, swarming around an equilibrium. Chicago this season was 13-13, 14-14, 15-15, 16-16, 17-17, 18-18, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22, and 23-23. </p>
<p id="rhRH3J">A four-game losing streak got the White Sox off that track, but they head into this series on a two-game win streak. At 25-27, the only way they get back to exactly .500 during this series is by winning the first two games.</p>
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<p id="7X41YU">Chicago trails the Twins by five games in the division, but are <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds">still favored at FanGraphs</a>, with a 44.8-percent chance to finish on top, and a 60.4-percent chance to reach the postseason.</p>
<p id="tcx8Q4">There are a number of differences between the two teams, with the Dodgers topping baseball in run differential, and the White Sox are near the bottom, at 24th. Then again, the discrepancy was even larger last week at Dodger Stadium when the Pirates turned the tables and swept the Dodgers.</p>
<p id="cBRtl9">But there is one thing that jumps out between the Dodgers and White Sox. It’s walks, on both sides of the ball.</p>
<p id="ApAFfO">Dodgers hitters <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2022&month=0&season1=2022&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2022-01-01&enddate=2022-12-31&sort=8,d">lead the majors with a 10.6-percent walk rate</a>, and the White Sox are last at 6.2 percent. That fuels a .333 on-base percentage for LA, second in MLB, compared to just .294 for Chicago. On the pitching side, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&season=2022&month=0&season1=2022&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2022-01-01&enddate=2022-12-31&sort=7,a">the White Sox have walked batters at the highest rate</a> (10.5 percent), with the Dodgers arms the fourth-lowest at 7.0 percent.</p>
<p id="BKQhNn">In raw numbers, Dodgers batters have walked (220) nearly twice as many times as the White Sox (119). Los Angeles pitchers have walked 138 batters, compared to 212 by Chicago. </p>
<p id="Z1sQKg">This series is the first meeting between the two teams since 2017. They played two games in each location that season, all four games won by the Dodgers, in the midst of their unreal stretch of winning 52 times in 61 games.</p>
<p id="M2laiS">White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson is on the injured list with a right groin strain. So is old friend Joe Kelly, with a left hamstring strain.</p>
<p id="dYIksf">Old friends are struggling for Chicago. Yasmani Grandal is hitting .163/.274/.213, a 50 wRC+, and AJ Pollock is at .216/.242/.344, a 67 wRC+.</p>
<h3 id="AmWTek">Pitching matchups</h3>
<ul>
<li id="6udV58">Tuesday (5:10 p.m. PT): Mitch White vs. Michael Kopech</li>
<li id="0SwS5Z">Wednesday (5:10 p.m.): Tony Gonsolin vs. Johnny Cueto</li>
<li id="4sNxd6">Thursday (11:10 a.m.): Tyler Anderson vs. Dylan Cease</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="qB7C8f">Broadcast info</h3>
<p id="G8JVXR">The series opener Tuesday night is on both SportsNet LA locally, and TBS for folks outside of the Los Angeles market. Brian Anderson and Ron Darling are calling the game for TBS along with reporter Hazel Mae. The TBS telecast <em>will</em> be available in Chicago. </p>
<p id="LpyqCV"><em>Next week’s</em> Dodgers-Angels series opener at Dodger Stadium, on Tuesday, June 14, will also be televised on TBS. Don Orsillo will call play-by-play for that broadcast alongside analyst Jeff Francoeur, with reporter Heidi Watney. That TBS broadcast won’t be available locally.</p>
<h3 id="CU3Z0C">Game info</h3>
<ul>
<li id="wzUlJS">Teams: Dodgers (35-19) at White Sox (25-27)</li>
<li id="O5ynJS">Pitchers: Mitch White vs. Michael Kopech</li>
<li id="g8HEKw">Location: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago</li>
<li id="BYbLUY">Time: 5:10 p.m. PT</li>
<li id="LhRUSe">TV: SportsNet LA, TBS (out of market)</li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/6/7/23158297/dodgers-white-sox-preview-walksEric Stephen